Treasury Yields: A Long-Term Perspective - Tuesday, Feb. 5

Let's have a look at a long-term perspective on Treasury yields as of the January 31, 2018 close. The chart below shows the 10-Year Constant Maturity yield since 1962 along with the Federal Funds Rate (FFR) and inflation. The range has been astonishing. The stagflation that set in after the 1973 Oil Embargo was finally ended after Paul Volcker raised the FFR to 20.06%.

The last couple of years have been remarkable ones for yields. The 10-year note hit its historic closing low of 1.37% in July of 2016 and then rose 126 BPs to 2.63% as of the January 31, 2018 close.

Now let's overlay the S&P 500 to see historical pattern of equities versus treasuries. This is a nominal chart, which significantly distorted the real value of both yields and equity prices.

Here's the same chart with the S&P 500 and 10-year yields adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index. The impact of stagflation becomes much clearer. We can better understand the severity of the decline in equities from the mid-1960s to the bottom in 1982. And we can also see why high yields can be deceptive in periods of double-digit inflation.

The most interesting series in the charts is the FFR red line. We can see how the Fed has used rate to control inflation, accelerate growth and, when needed, apply the brakes. The FFR was virtually zero from 2008 through 2016 and has proven to be a poor tool to stimulate the economy. Incidentally, we've annotated the top chart with the tenures of the last three Fed chairmen so we can see who was managing the various FFR cycles since the summer of 1979.

The next chart is based on daily data and adds some additional Treasuries for a close look at yields since 2007.

Now let's see the 10-year against the S&P 500 with some notes on Fed intervention.

We update the long-term charts periodically and the last chart more frequently, depending on yield volatility.

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Jill has been working with Advisor Perspectives since 2012 and in 2015 joined the dshort team as Research Director. She considers herself a Gen X’er and has a background in mathematics and ...
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Jill has been working with Advisor Perspectives since 2012 and in 2015 joined the dshort team as Research Director. She considers herself a Gen X’er and has a background in mathematics and science. She holds a Master of Science in Physical Science with a concentration in physics and astronomy from the University of Chicago. Jill spent a number of years working in both academia and nonprofits, from research in space science to playing a major role in a start-up science outreach organization.

After years in science, Jill shifted her focus to finance and economics. She is interested in economic trends and market reactions, and how domestic and international economies integrate, interact, and influence the world’s markets.

When not analyzing financial and economic data, Jill enjoys running, traveling, and cooking for family and friends.